What I evaluated from installment two, was the ironic position of Sydney Carton as a Jackal. Sydney Carton supplies all of the work for his partner, who then takes his brilliant ideas, and wins cases. One would think that in the process of this, "Jackal versus Lion" situation, Mr. Carton would be angry at his partner for taking his credit. Mr. Carton describes himself as, "as a disappointed drudge" (Dickens 89). Mr. Carton wins the Charles Darnay trial by looking at Mr. Darnay, and admiring over his successful life. He passes a note to his partner, and the case begins to lose its identification, and Carton and his partner win.
There are multiple different ironic parts of this character, as well as the way people perceive him is ironic. Even Charles Darnay says that he, "might have used his talents better". This is ironic because Mr. Carton was one who saved his life.
The title of chapter five is called, The Jackal. Dickens signifies the irony within the title. Mr. Stryver, talks to Mr. Carton about how he carrying him within the cases. "... that although Sydney Carton would never be a lion, he was an amazingly good jackal, and that he rendered suit and service to Stryver in that humble capacity" (Dickens, 90). The analogy that Dickens made was that Lions eat catch the prey and Jackals pick up the scraps. I believe the irony made here is something that most readers likely had trouble picking up on, but this only helps us learn more about Mr. Sydney Carton.
Matt:
ReplyDeleteI like your comments on this exchange between these two characters, and you did a nice job focusing on the impact of Dickens' word choice.
Here's a suggestion: focus more on the power of individual words in the passage. For example, why is the word "drudge" so effective in this passage?
I completely agree with your ideas. Mr. Stryver was clearly taking advantages of Mr. Carton. It seems that Mr. Carton and Mr. Stryver's relationship is very similar to the relationship between the noble class in France and the French people. Mr. Carton was the one who was oppressed and deprived, and Mr. Stryver was enjoying the fruit of Mr. Carton.
ReplyDeleteCarton's situation is a specific example, but it also is able to reflect the general situation of both the British and the Frenchmen. Both countries need a revolution to redress the society onto a better way.